Hi all,
For those of you that do balloon twisting in places where they serve food..... how do you overcome the objection of doing them and having them pop, landing in someones food???? I had not really given it too much thought as generally you would be out of the way before THEIR food came,,,,, but the balloons could pop and go to a different table that already had food??
It was an objection that a manager at a restuarant had the other day when we spoke. I wasnt in his place but we met thru a mutual friend and that person brought it up.....
any thoughts are much apprieciated!!

I'll admit to not ballooning in restaurants often however this has never been a problem brought up to me before so I will be watching others responses.

I guess you could just play it off and make it funny. Tell them that they can keep it. I honestly have done very little restaurant work. Balloons will pop. What are ya going to do?

I do work in places where they serve food occasionaly. Mostly it is the organiser of the party who hires me. Very rarely it's the manager of the place. Then I think most of them wouldn't think about having this objection. If it would happen I would probably tell him that yes, occasionaly a balloon will pop and yes some of these occasions could occasionaly fly away. One of these occasions of the occasions that a balloon pops could occasionaly fly into someones meal. The change of this occasion of this occasion of this occasion will be very very very occasionally though. And when this happen there is a chance the costumer won't notice, altough I think this chance will be very small. The change the costumer would also eat it would even be smaller. That the costumer will then also choke in it is nihil. So when noticed this rare happening what will the cosumer do? Yes an occasional costumer could be unhappy altough the making of the balloons are a pleasure to watch. Yes in some occasions such a occasional customer could even ask for a new meal. Wouldn't the chance be much bigger that one of the waitress falls over the tip of a carpet and lands with his head in the meal that he was carrying?

UHHHHH, Want fries with that?

I have had a weekly gig at a restaurant for the last 5 years. Yes, balloons pop. Some weeks A LOT of balloons pop. Most weeks not so many. The only times I can remember balloons ending up at other tables they didn't end up in the food. I remember handing out pieces of the balloons for the children to hold, but wouldn't you know it Fitzwilly forgot to tie the knot, and off they went. Much of the time when I am working I am focusing on the table in front of me but I am entertaining many more tables as they watch the interaction.
If you are using a pump then there wouldn't be the question of clown kooties either.

USUALLY the balloon debris ends up in non food areas. :) I had a balloon that busted and landed in a some lady's marguerita once. Luckily it wasn't her first drink of the night, and the lady and her table busted up laughing. I had the waitress bring her a fresh drink (which I covered the price of) and I made a nice bear on a heart for her (and her adult friends) while she was waiting for the drink. I ended up with a $20 tip (minus the $9 for the drink) and the lady became a regular customer who would actually request balloons at her table.

I guess it depends on how you handle the situation.

Can you share the types of restaurants you twist for...and how you may have approached them...for business...any form letters...?

I'm guessing most restaurants won't want to pay you for that...so could you perhaps work for tips and maybe a gift certificate to the rest. that way you get the exposure...you pass out cards to everyone...and you could even use the gift certificate later for a potential bigger client...

Simple.

Don't pop the balloon.

:)

Make the balloons after they order, but before their food gets there.

It helps pass the time while they wait for their food.

I do balloons every Tuesday night at a restaurant. They called me for the job before I even thought of doing that. But, I would go in during non-busy hours (not in costume), with pictures of my clown. Introduce yourself to the manager or owner and ask if they have a few minutes to talk about what you have to offer. Having an entertainer can really draw people in on a slow night. Offer to do a freebee night so they can see you in action.
I do my restaurant job at a greatly reduced price. I have my poster up in the front entrance of the restaurant and they never take it down. Plus I leave my cards on a shelf by the door. I don't pass my card out to anyone unless they ask, but they do ask and usually my stack is gone when I get there the next week. I do get my money's worth in new jobs. If someone calls for a job and they've never seen me before, I just invite them down to the restaurant on a Tuesday night. People like to see who they're hiriing.